Chapter 413: Preparing For What’s To Come

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"Hah! And while they give speeches, Cid’s labs keep running. More Espers are being drained. And Willheim keeps cooking up his freaky super soldiers..."

Vladimir flexed his claws on his remaining hand as he spoke, looking far more annoyed by that than by the arm he had lost. A speech would not stop the labs. Neither would applause from people who had no idea what was happening inside them.

Label looked back toward the screen.

Arthur was still talking, and the cameras were still pointed at him. There was plenty being said about protecting the public, but nothing that answered the concerns Vladimir had just raised.

That was what made listening to this so frustrating. Everyone watching the broadcast was being given a reason to feel safer. Meanwhile, the people sitting here had seen enough to know that the danger had not gone anywhere.

Daniela drew her attention away from Gawain and Guinevere. What mattered now was how Riven intended to respond.

Riven’s gaze remained fixed on the screen as Arthur continued, promising full cooperation with the Association, increased security budgets, and a "transparent investigation."

The old man’s voice never wavered, but it was pretty clear he was really damn pissed, despite his efforts to hide it. Riven knew his father well enough to recognize the signs. That smile, those carefully chosen words, and the way he presented himself to the public were all part of the same familiar act.

He noticed how quickly Arthur’s smile disappeared whenever a reporter asked something he did not like. It always returned before he answered, but Riven caught the change anyway.

Someone who did not know him might have missed it.

Riven had spent enough time around the old man to know when he was forcing himself to be polite. The way he cut certain questions short was another sign. He was giving the reporters answers, sure, but only to the things he wanted to discuss.

Anything else earned them a look that made some hesitate before trying again.

Whenever reporters asked about the footage of a rampaging Esper emerging from a Spirit Reactor, he ignored their questions altogether. That particular subject was clearly something he had no intention of addressing publicly.

One reporter tried to bring it up while Arthur was answering someone else. Another waited until he finished, raising a microphone and repeating the question more clearly.

It made no difference.

Arthur turned toward a different part of the crowd and continued talking about security. The reporter kept calling out, but the next question was already being asked, and the moment passed.

Riven let out a breath through his nose.

Of course. There were cameras everywhere, yet somehow the old man could still pretend he had not heard the one thing he did not want to answer.

What was the point of watching more? He was not going to explain anything about that Esper. Not while he could keep choosing easier questions.

"Alright."

Riven stood up and quickly turned off the TV. He was tired of watching these stupid news reports and decided to focus on the present, along with what they would do tomorrow. There was no point in wasting the entire morning listening to his father make promises he had no intention of keeping.

The screen went dark before Arthur could finish his next answer. Riven lowered the remote, glad to be done listening to him.

The others looked up. They had been waiting for Riven to say something, and now he finally had their attention.

He had enjoyed seeing his father angry, but that did not mean he wanted to spend the rest of the day watching him. There were things they needed to prepare, and none of them would get done if everyone kept sitting here.

Besides, they had been dealing with one problem after another. If they were going to leave Central City, he wanted the trip to be more than another round of work.

They could take a break. Actually enjoy themselves for a change.

Riven looked around at the others, making sure they were listening before he told them the plan.

"Tomorrow we’re going to Beach City," he said. "So all of you get ready. Set out your clothes, your stuff, everything. We’re not just going for business, though. We’re going on vacation. We’ve done enough in Central City."

Everyone nodded and headed off to prepare for the trip, each in their own way. Despite their efforts not to disturb her, the commotion woke Elisa, who looked at Riven with sleepy eyes.

She blinked at him, then glanced around as if she had missed something. People were moving about, talking about what they needed to bring, but she barely seemed to hear them.

Her attention returned to Riven.

He was standing, talking, and apparently ready to get on with the day. That should have been reassuring, but she remembered how he had looked when he arrived. Seeing him on his feet did not immediately make that concern disappear.

"Riven... you’re awake already?" she asked, her expression turning worried. "You passed out right after you got here... I was so worried."

She shifted toward him, looking him over before he could answer. Now that he was awake, she wanted to hear from him directly that nothing was wrong.

"I’m fine." He sat beside her. "I’ve slept and recovered, so I’m ready to start another day. Shall we have breakfast, then?"

Elisa did not look particularly convinced by the mention of breakfast.

"You’re already thinking about that?"

"Well, I’m hungry."

He said it so normally that she almost laughed, but her gaze kept returning to his face. She wanted to believe him. It was just difficult to forget that he had passed out before she could ask how he was feeling.

Riven stayed beside her instead of getting up to find something to eat. He could see that she needed more than a quick answer, and leaving now would only make her worry again.

"R-Really?" Elisa asked, looking even more worried as she touched his face, searching for any sign that he was still unwell. "You’re really fine?"

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